Guy wire anchor connection



March 21, 1933. H. E. MELLER GUY WIRE ANCHOR CONNECTION Filed Dec. 14,1951 gwuentoc fiE/FBEfTEMLLEf I Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT 5 OFFICEHERBERT EDWARD MILLER, 01 ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUY WIRE ANCHOR CONNECTION Application filed December 14, 1931.

This invention relates to guy wire anchor connections and similardevices.

The present invention is particularly intended for use in securing guywires to anchor rods, although it will become apparent that the deviceis applicable as fastening means for analogous devices and structures.It is the present'practice in the installation of guy wires to employanchor rods having ground anchoring means at one end and an eye at theother and to mount the anchor rod substantially in alinement with theline of the guy wire. A length of guy wire is then cut from a reel ofwire, and the wire commonly is cut to a length substantially greaterthan that which actually is needed. In installing the wire, one end isconnected to the telephone pole or other structure, whereupon theopposite end is threaded through the eye of the anchor rod. The free endof the wire is then bent upwardly along the body of the guy wire, andowing to the stiffness of the wire, this operation is attended with material difliculty. Ordinarily a block and tackle or similar take-up meansis connected to the other end of thewire to exert a pull thereon totighten the wire and pull it through the eye of the anchor rod, and adevice commercially known as a Gofiing clamp is engaged against oppositestrands of the wire adjacent the eye of the anchor rod to straighten outthe wire strands and assist in the taking up of the guy wire through thepulling means employed.

The two-part guy clamp commonly employed is then placed in position andtightened, and this operation also is attended with considerabledilficulty; After the clamp has been properly tightened, a substantiallength of the free end of the guy wire will remain, and this wireordinarily is cut off close to the clamp, and left upon the ground. Thispiece of wire thus discarded constitutes a loss which is of someconsequence considering the fact that thousands of installations of thischaracter are made annually, and the presence of the discarded wire inrural communities constitutes a source of danger to agriculturalapparatus such as mowing machines.

Serial No. 580,976.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel guywire connection which permits the installation of a guy wire with muchgreater ease, and in much less time than ordinarily is required.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred towherein installation of the guy wire is greatly facilitated without theuse of clamps'for straightening A further object is to provide aguy'connection which permits the elimination of the usual eye andthimble, and'which eliminates the abrasion of the galvanized surface ofthe guy strand, which follows the usual practice of driving a partlytightened guy clamp into its proper position near the eye of the anchorrod.

A further object is to eliminate the several parts and operationsusually required with the hook types of anchor rods by providing meansfor insuring against accidental disengagement of the guy strand from theanchor. Other objects and advantagesof the invention will becomeapparent during the course 8 of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown two embodiments of the invention. In thisshowing,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the inven tion applied,

Figure 2 is an edge elevation showing the clamp and upper end of theanchor rod with the guy strand connected thereto,

Figure 3 is a face view of the same,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 4L-4 of Figure 2, 1

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the upper end of the anchor rod andassociated elements illulstrating a modified form of the invention, an

Figure 6 is a face view of the same.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 10 designates a telephone pole orsimilar device having its lower end buried in the ground 11. A guystrand 12 is connected at its upper end to the pole 10 and at its lowerend to an anchor rod indicated as a whole by the numeral 13, referred toin detail later. The anchor rod is provided at its lower end with theusual ground anchoring means (not shown).

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the anchor rodincludes a shank 14 having a head 15 preferably formed integral with itsupper end. The head 15 has its lower portion materially wider than theshank 14,

as shown in Figure 3, while the lower extremity of the head is offsetfrom the shank 1i, as indicated at 1.6. The lower portion of the headmerges with the shank 14; in a curved face 17 forming a saddle forapurpose to be described. The inner face portion of the head 15 has itslower portion curved upwardly and inwardly as at 18 and the line of thesaddle obviously follows this curvature. Above the curved face 18, theinner face of the head 15 issubstantially flat as at 19. parallel to andslightly spaced fromthe axis of the shank 14, as shown in Figure 2.

The head 15 is providedat its upper end with a guy strand positioningmember 20,

preferably formed integral with the head 15 and substantially -C-shapedin transverse cross-section, as indicated in Figure 1. Such structureaccordingly provides opposite hooks 21 within which opposite strands ofthe guy wire :are adapted to be placed under conditions to be described.In order to facilitate the entrance of the wire into the hooks 21, theupper end portion of the shank 14, adjacent the curved face 18 of thehead, increases in width as at 22, and accordingly forms apart of thesaddle 17. The upper extremity of the shank tapers to decrease in widthas at 23, and then curves inwardly as at 24 to merge with the inner faceof the head 15. The rear face of the head 15 maybe provided with anintegral reinforcing rib 25.

The usual two piece clamp 26 may be employed for clamping oppositestrands of the guy wire to prevent relative longitudinal movementtherebetween. In Figures 2'and 3, the guy strand is shown arrangedbetween the members of the clamp 26 with the free end 27 of the strandprojecting slightly above the clamp. The elements of the clamp aresecured against the guy wire by the usual clamping bolts28. The lowerends of the elements of the clamp 26 lie in a common plane and are cutoff square at as 29. It also will be noted that the upper extremity ofthe wire engaging member 20 is cut off square as at 30, and accordinglythe adjacent ends of the clamp and member 20 are adapted to engagesolidly against each other.

v In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing a somewhat modified form of thedevice is illustrated. In the modified form of the device, the upper endof the shank 31 of the anchor rod terminates in an integral eye 32, andabove the eye and at right angles thereto an integral grooved thimble 33is formed. Obviously a guy wire projecting through the eye 32 will beadapted to have its opposite strands lying in the groove of the thimble33. This thimble is relatively large at its lower portion as at 34:,while the thi-m ble tapers to decrease in width toward its upper end asat 35' I A laterally ofi'set integral extension 36 is carried by theupper end of the thimble 33 and terminates at its upper end in asubstantially Cshaped hook member 37 similar in cross-sectional shape tothe wire engaging member 20 previously described.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 1inclusive is as follows:

The anchor 13 is secured in position in the' ground inthe usual mannerwith the parts at the upper end thereof arranged substantially as shownin Figure 1. Instead o f-cutting offa length of guy strand, the wiremerely is unreeled and the free end ofthe wire is connected to the pole10 in the usual manner. The Wire is then brought downwardly to the upperend of the anchor and placed within one of the hooks 21'. After thisoperation is performed, the wire is passed around the saddle 17 andsince it is unnecessary to thread the wire through an eye, the operatormay press the wire close into the saddle as it is being bent to encirclethe saddle, whereupon the portion of the wire extending beyond thesaddle is placed within the other hook 21. I

The placing of the wire into the positions thus far described readilymay be accomplished without the use of clamping means for straighteningout opposite strands of the wire, it being relatively easy for theoperator to place both strands of wire within the respective hooks 21.The usual block and tackle or other take-up means is then connected tothe free portion of the Wire at a substantial distance above the anchorandthe wire is pulled taut in the usual manner. The pulling actionreadily may be transmitted in a line parallel to the main portion of thestrand 12 and in direct alinement with the portionof the wire as itpasses through the corresponding hook 21. Accordingly, after the pullingoperation is carried on to a sufficient extent, the two strands will beheld taut parallel to each other and at the proper distance apart topermit the clamp 26 to be placed in position. In this connection, itwill be noted that the hooks 21 definitely determine the spacing of theadjacent portions of the strand, and these hooks are placed apart theproper distance to facilitate the placing of the clamp in position v Thetwoparts of the'clamp arearranged against the guy strand and movedownwardly into snug contact with the upper end ofthe anchor, that is,withthe upper extremity of the wire engaging member 20. The bolts 28 arethen tightened, whereupon the free portion of the guy wire is cut off toform a free end 27, as indicated in Figure 3. Obviously, the end of thewire may be cut off as closely to the clamp as may be desired. It willbe apparent that since'the clamp contacts with the upper end of theanchor, downward movement of the clamp is prevented when the wire 12slacks or becomes loosened, and accordingly it is impossible for theloop ofthe strand passing around the saddle to become disengagedtherefrom. It will be apparent therefore that a permanent installationis efiected without the use of special tools, and without the use ofspecial means for preventing disengagement between the guy strand andthe saddle. V v

Moreover, it will be apparent that the passing of the strand around thesaddle is facilitated since the free portion of the strand permits theoperator to apply a substantial leverage in bending the strand aroundthe saddle, which operation is impossible when an eye is employed at theupper end of the anchor. The elimination of the eye also permits thestrand to be completely installed before being cut, and accordingly asaving in material is effected and danger to agricultural apparatus iseliminated since no loose end of wire is.

permitted to remain on the ground adjacent the guy wire. The provisionof the wire engaging member 20 is of great importance. The insertion ofthe main portion of the strand within one of the hooks 2O facilitatesthe placing of the wire around the saddle since the bulging of the wireupon the bending thereof is prevented. Moreover, the hooks 21 properlyspace opposite strands of the wire to facilitate the application of theclamp, while the upper ends of the hooks engage the clamp to preventdownward movement thereof, and accordinglythey function to preventdisengagement of the loop of the strand from the saddle. In thisconnection it will be noted that the curvature of the face 18 and theplacing of the fiat face 19 of the head 15 throws the opposite'strandsof the wire into a plane substantially common to the axis of the shank14, and accordingly the pull on the wire 12 is substantially directly inalinement with the shank 14.

The operation of the wire engaging member 37 shown in Figure 6 isidentical with that previously described and need not be referred to indetail. In the modified form of the invention it is necessary of courseto cut the wire an approximate length because of the use of the eye 32,and the end of the wire must be threaded through the eye. However, theprovision of the member 37 faproperly for positioning within theelements of the clamp. Of course, it is necessary to take up on the freeend of the wire to remove the slack therefrom prior to the applicationof the clamp. While the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6is superior to devices of thistype in common use'because of theprovision of the hooks at the upper end thereof and their relationshipto the clamp, it is preferred that the form of the invention illustratedinFigures'l to 4 inclusive be employed becauseof'the addi tionaladvantages inherent therein through the use of the saddle 17 andassociated elements. A

It is to be understood that'the formsof the invention herewith shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape. size and arrangements of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1."The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection havingaportion adjacent one end around which the guy wire is adapted tobelooped, and hook means carried by said connection adjacent thejlastnamed .portion thereof. for receiving the strands of the cable onopposite sides of the loop thereof, said connection having a portionengageable with the guy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof withrespect to said connection. I I

2. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection having aportion adjacent its upper end around which the guy wire is adapted tobe looped, a member carried by the connection and projectingupwardlybeyond said portion thereof, and hook. means carried by theupper end of said member for receiving the strands of the guy wire, saidconnection having a portion engageable with the guy clamp to preventdownward movement thereof with respect to said connection.

3. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor-connection having aportion adjacent its upper end around which the guy wire is adapted tobe looped, an integralmember carried by the connection and projectingupwardly beyond said portion thereof, and a substantially C-shaped cableengaging element carried by the upper end ofsaid member and formingopposite inwardly opening hooks for receiving the strands of the cableon opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upper end of said cableengaging element being engageable against the lower end of'the guy clampto prevent downward movement thereof with respect tosaid connection.

l. The Combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, asaddle-formed integral'with said connection and around which the guywire is adapted to be looped, and hook means carried by the connectionand adapted to receive the strands of the cable on opposite sides of theloop thereof, the upper end of said hook means being engageab'le againstthe lower end of the guy clampflto preventdownward movement thereof withrespect to said connection. a

5. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a headcarried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having itslower end offset from the connection to form therewith a-saddle aroundwhich the guy wire is adapted to be looped,

and opposite inwardly opening hooks carried by the head for engaging thestrands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upperextremity of said hooks being engageable against the lower end of theguy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof with respect to saidconnection.

6. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a headcarried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having itslower end offset from the connection to form therewith a saddle aroundwhich the guy wire is adapted to be looped, the lower portion ofsaid-head being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of theanchor connection to a plane slightly spaced from said axis, and hookmeans carried by the upper portion of said head for receiving thestrands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upperextremity of said hook means being engageable against the lower end ofthe guy clamp to limit downward movement thereof with respect to saidconnection.

7 The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a headcarried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having itslower end ofiset from the connection to form therewith a saddle aroundwhich the guy wire is adapted to be looped, the lower portion of saidhead being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the anchorconnection, the upper portion of said head forming a continuation of thecurved portion thereof and having its inner face parallel'to andslightly spaced from the axis of the connection, and a wire engagingmember carried by the upper portion of said head, said member beingsubstantially C- shaped in transverse cross-section with respect to theaxis of the anchor connection-to form opposite inwardly opening cablereceiving hooks having common inner faces lying in the plane of theinner face of the upper portion of said head, the upper extremity ofsaid wire engaging memberbeing engageable against the lower end of theguy clamp to limit the downward movement thereof with respect to saidconnection.

8. Thecombination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection having aportion around which a cable is adapted to be passed, and'hook meanscarried by said connection adjacent the last named portion thereof forreceiving the opposite strands of the guy wire and for limiting thespace therebetween to correspond to the space between the wire receivingportions to the guy clamp.

' 9. The combination with a guy clamp, 'of

an anchor connection having a portion around which the guy wire isadapted to be passed, an integral member carried by said connection andprojecting upwardly beyond said portion thereof, and a substantially C-shaped guy wire engaging element carried by the upper end of said'memberand forming inwardly opening hooks for receiving the opposite strands ofthe guy wire to space them a distance apart corresponding to theposisponding to the wire receiving portions of v the 7 guy clamp.

11. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a headcarried by'said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having itslower end offset from the connection to form therewith a saddle aroundwhich the guy wire is adapted to be looped, a portion of said head abovethe lower end thereof being curved inwardly toward the axis of theanchor connection to a plane slightly spaced from and parallel to suchaxis, and hook means carried by, the upper portion of said head forreceiving the opposite strandsof the guy wire to space them apart adistance corresponding to the wire receiving portions of the guy clamp.

12. Av device of the character described comprising an anchor connectionhaving a portion around which a guy wire is adapted to be looped,saidconnection having its upper extremity lying above said loopreceiving portion and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of theanchor connection and engageable with the lower end of a guy wire clamp.

'13. A device of the character described comprising an anchorconnection, a saddle formed integral with said connection and aroundwhich a guy wire is adapted to be looped, the upper end of saidconnection lying above said saddle and having its upper extremityarranged transverse to the axis of the anchor connection and engageableagainst the lower end of a guy clamp.

14. A device of the character described comprising an anchor connectionhaving a portion around which a guy wire is adapted to be looped, amember carried by said connection and projecting upwardly beyond saidportion thereof, and hook means carried by the upper end of said memberfor receiving the opposite strands of the guy wire, the upper extremityof said member lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the guyconnection and engageable with the lower end of a guy clamp.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT EDWARD MILLER.

